Coupling device.



0. RUDE.

GOUPLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED Amma, 1908.

9 1 9 ,469. Patented Apr. 27, 1909.

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aff/f 53W M @Reifung o. Runs. COUPLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.16, 1908.

I 919,469. Patented Apnz?, 1909.

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wuentot 055543 Hmm y alibi/"m Cir @ETES UNTER@ OSCAR RUDE, OF BURKE, WISCONSIN.

COUPLING DEVICE No. 919,469. Specication of Application led April 16,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, OSCAR Bunn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Burke, in the county of Dane and State of l/lrlisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coupling Devices, of which the Yfollowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in coupling devices and more particularly one especially adapted for connecting a traction engine to its load, but which may be used for analogous purposes.

The object of the invention is to provide a couplinU device ol this character which will be simple, strong, durable and comparatively inexplensive in construction and by means oi whic a traction engine may be quickly and easily connected to and disconnected from the machine, vehicle, or other load which it is to haul.

l/Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fi ure 1 is a side elevation of my improved coup ing device showing its hook member in open position; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section showing the device in its closed position and a link member' engaged with it; Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the coupling device; and Fig. 5 is a detail perspective oi the body ofthe coupling device.

In the drawings 1 denotes my improved coupling device w rich is in the form of ahook member and adapted to engage a link member 2 of any suitable form and construction. The member or device 1 comprises a body 3 having upper and lower arms 4, 5 which are s aced apart and slotted or divided longituinally, said arms being adapted to receive the link membel` 2 between tl'rem, and the spaced sections or members of each arm being adapted to receive a retaining hook G and a combined operating and locking lever 7. The lower arm 5 of the body 3 is preferably curved or inclined downwardly to provide a flaring entrance to the opening or space between the two arms and permit of the ready insertion of the link member 2. Said retain- Letters Patent.

shaped and is mounted between the spaced sections of the upper arm 4 upon a transverse pivot 8. The latter passes through the closed portion of the hook 6 so that its two arms 9, 10 hang downwardly and are adapted to swing in a longitudinal plane between the spaced sections of the lower arm 5 of the body.

The lever 7 is angular or in the form ot a bell crank and is pivoted at its angle on a transverse pin ll. in the inner portion of the lower arm 5. The upper end 12 ol' the lever is adapted to provide an operatingl handle and extends through the arm 'lin which it swings, The lower end 13 olj the lever is inclined downwardly and forwardly and extends into the lower arm 5, its extremity being notched or bent to provide a shoulder or hook portion .i4 adapted to co-aet with the end 10 of the hook (i. The handle end 12 ol' the lever is actuated in a rearward direction by a spring 15 which supports the forward end 13 of said lever in an elevated position so that when the hook 6 is closed its outer square end 10 will be engaged by the shoulder or hook portion 14 on the end 13 ol the lever to lock the link member 2 between the arms 4 and 5 of the body olE the device. Said end 13 of the lever is also adapted to be engaged by the inner end or arm 9 olV the hook 6 when the latter is in its open position so that the other arm or end ll 0 ol' said hook will be supported above thc curved outer end of the arm 5 oll the body to permit of the ready insertion ol the Coupling of the link member 2. .lt will be seen that when the hook is in its open position, shown in Fig. 1, and the link member 2 is inserted beneath the arm 1() of the hook and between the arms Ll, 5 of the body of the coupling device or member l,

Patented April 27, 1909.

Serial No. 427,448.

of the end 9 of the hook (i and swing it inwardly or rearwardly, thereby causing its lower end to oscillate the lever against the tension ol' its spring 15. This movement ol the hook causes its outer arm 10 to swing downwardly across tht` space between tlir` arms 4, 5 and between the spaced sections oli the lower arm 5 of the body so that the instant the inner end 9 of the hook leaves the upper edge of the end 13 ol the lever, the latter will spring outwardly and its ,hook or shoulder 14 will spring in advance oli the lower extremity ol the end or arm 10 of the hook and thereby lock said end or arm in its ing hook or member 6 is substantially U- closed position to retain the link member besaid link will engage the inclined inner edge tween the arms 4, 5. lt will therefore be seen that the device is seli locking when the linli member is pushed into it and that the inner arm or end 9 of the hook 6 not only serves as a means for supporting the other arm or end of the hook elevated to receive the link member but also as a means for actuating the lever to irst depress and then release its outer end during the coupling operation.

The spring 15 for actuating the lever is preferably in the form of a coil having one of its ends engaged with the clamping bolt 1T oli 1U-shaped clip 18 arranged upon the upper end. oi' the lever' 7. The other end oi' said spring is engaged with a hook upon one arm o1" similar shaped clip 19 arrange-:l upon the draw bar 2O of a traction engine or any othe vehicle or body and secured thereon by a clamping bolt 21. As shown, the draw bar 2O projects into the body portion 3 of the coupling device and is loosely secured by a transverse pivot bolt 22, which latter thus serves to detacl'rably secure the coupling d evice to a traction engine or other object.

23 denotes a combined stop and guide ar.- ranged upon the end 12 of the lever .7 between the arms 4, 5 of the body and in the form of a U-shaped plate secured by a transverse pin 211. The top and bottom edges of said plate are adapted to engage the opposing edges of the arms il, 5 to limit the swinging movement of the lever and the spaced ends of the same are adapted to receive the inner end 9 of the hook 6 between them to guide the latter in its swinging movement.

Vhile the body 3 of the coupling may be of any suitable form and construction I pret'- erably make it of two rectangular side plates between which are arranged upper an d lower pairs or forwardly projecting bars and centrally disposed spacing plates. Said bars form the upper and lower arms el, 5 of the body and they are spaced apart by said cen,- trally arranged plates. Transverse rivets secure the several parts of the body together and the rear ends of said bars are bent outwardly at right angles to engage the rear edges of the side plates to relieve said rivets of strain.

The link member 2, illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, comprises a bar 25 which may be the draft bar or tongue of a threshing machine, vehicle or any other object which forms the load for the traction engine. Gn the opposite sides of the bar 25 are bolted forwardly projecting strips 26 and between the ends of the latter is arranged a transverse bolt 27 which may contain a wear sleeve 28 adapted to enter between the arms 4, 5 of the body of the coupling device. Said sleeve 28 is preferably in the form olI a cylindrical roller, as shown.

From the foregoing it will be seen that my improved coupling device is simple, strong,

durable and inexpensive in construction and quiclf` and eiliective in o eration. Owing to its peculiar construction it will be seen that the two members may be quickly engaged and locked by simply shoving the linl; membei' into thc open hook member and that the two members may be as readily separated by simply swinging the handle 12 of the lever outwardly and then pulling said. members apart.

TWhile l have shown and described in detail the preferred einboriliment of the invention it will be understood that l do not wish to be limited to the precise construction set forth and that various changes in the forni, proportion and minor details of construction be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sac-rir'icing any of the advantages or' the invention.

iiaving thus described my invention what i claim is: Y

1. A coupling device comprising a body having spaced arms, a retaining hook of substantially U-liorm pivoted to one of said arms and ha ing inner and outer ends and a spring actuated operating lever having a shouldered end adapted to engage the outer end of the hook to retain the latter in its closed position, the inner end of said hook being adapted to engage and actuate the lever in the closing operation of thedevice.

2. A coupling device comprising a body having spaced arms, a retaining hook of substantially U-form pivoted to one of said arms and having inner and outer ends and a spring actuated operating lever having a shouldered end adapted to engage the outer end of the hook to retain the latter in its closed position, the inner end of said hook being adapted to engage said end of the lever to operate it against the tension of its actuating spring during the closing operation of the device and to release it to permit its shoulder to engage said outer end of the hook and retain the latter in its closed position.

A coupling device comprising a body having upper and lower arms composed of spaced sections, a substantially U-shaped retaining hook pivoted at its closed portion in the upper arm and having inner and outer ends depending and adapted to swing between the sections ot the lower arm, an anguiar lever arranged between the sections ot' the two arms and pivoted at its angle in the lower arm, the upper end of the lever forming an operating handle and the lower end being shouldered to engage the outer end of said hook, the inner end of said hook being adapted. to engage said lower arm of the lever to actuate it, and a spring for actuating said lever in one direction.

A coupling device comprising a body having` a socketed portion adapted to receive a draw bar and upper and lower arms provided with spaced sections, a draw bar secured in said body, a retaining` hook of U- l'orrn pivoted in the upper arni and having inner and outer depending ends, an angular lever pivoted at its angle in the lower arin and having an upwardly projecting,` end to provide a handle and a downwardly and forwardly projecting end formed with a shoulder to engage the outer end oi the hook, the inner end ol the latter being; adapted to engageand actuate said lower end of the lever, clips u on said lever and said draw bar and a coil) spring` arranged betweeusaid clips.

5. A coupling device comprising a body provided with spaced arnis and consisting of outer side plates and spaced bars which forni the arms and are secured between said side plates, a retaining hook pivoted between tlie spaced bars of one arni and a spring` actuated locking lever pivoted be-l tween the spaced bars of the other arni and adapted to engage said hook.

6. A coupling` device comprising a body provided with spaced arms and consisting ol outer side plates and spaced bars which l`or1n the arnis and are secured between said side plates, a draw bar secured in the body, a retaining; hook pivoted between the bars of one arnr, a locking lever pivoted between the bars ol the other arm and adapted to engage said hook, clips upon said lever and said draw bar and a coil spring between said Clips.

lu testimony whereof l hereunto affix niy siguatu re in the presence ol two witnesses.

OSC/Al R UUE.

fitnesse/s:

STEPHEN GiLMAN, ViNnmnn Il. TluLrN. 

